“Something like this wouldn’t be newsworthy if it wasn’t for the fact it hasn’t snowed all year,” said Gino Izzi, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

The last storm of an inch or more occurred was last February, and the previous record stretch of no snow of 310 days was set in 1940, the Chicago Tribune reported. Friday's snowfall also marked the latest it has gone in the season before an inch of snow has fallen.

Besides ending the record streak, the snow created slick roads during the morning rush hour. By 7:15 a.m., state police said they had responded to about two dozen accidents on area roads, the Chicago Tribune reported, including one that involved nine cars. Minor injuries were reported.

The city deployed nearly 200 plow trucks to clear snow and lay salt on the streets, according to a statement from the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation.

"We’re going to be monitoring the weather but at this point we’re looking at snowfall at least through the rush hour," Streets and Sanitation Spokesperson Anne Sheahan said.

Chicago saw 12.9 inches of snow by this time last year, compared to 2.8 so far this winter. The average is 18.3 inches, the Tribune reported. The next bout of snow was not expected until next week.